Measles Impact

Anchor lead: Measles
infection can have a long term impact on immune responses, Elizabeth Tracey
reports

Unvaccinated children who became infected with the measles
virus had long term destruction of their ability to fight off infections to
which they had previously been exposed, a recent study found. Patricia
Davidson, dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, believes inflammation
may be the key.

Davidson: I think it underscores the role that inflammation
plays in so many of our diseases. A message for me from that was if you can
avoid any infectious disease by any means do it. From washing your hands,
covering your mouth when you cough to immunizations. These are just positive
health seeking behaviors that we have to engage in individually and as health
professionals encourage our communities and the people we take care of to
adhere to as well. :30

Davidson notes the study also shows that immunity passed
from mother to baby is not protective, making vaccination even more important.
At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.